- Steep driveway slopes towards a three foot sheer drop with no retaining wall, barrier or other prevention, creating risk of vehicle overrun and crush.
- Driveway surface was icy from frost and frozen snow; unclear whether tenants or owners have access to gritting materials or procedures to mitigate slipperiness.
- No guidance for safe unloading from the upper driveway; rear-boot unloading risked vehicle rolling towards person; Howarth Properties must set out actions within 56 days.
Date of report: 06/07/2026
Ref: 2026-0315
Deceased name: Eleisha Skinner
Coroner name: Crispin Butler
Coroner Area: Buckinghamshire
This report is being sent to: Howarth Properties LTD
| REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS | |
|---|---|
| 1 | CORONER I am Crispin Giles BUTLER, Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of Buckinghamshire. |
| 2 | DATE OF REPORT 06 July 2026 |
| 3 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. |
| 4 | THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO 1. Howarth Properties Ltd You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by August 31, 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period if an appropriate application is made. |
| 5 | YOUR RESPONSE Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise, you must explain why no action is proposed. I have a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner. I will pass any representations received to the Chief Coroner for a decision. The names of those who do not respond to PFD reports are regularly published on the Chief Coroner’s webpages Non-responses to Prevention ofFuture Death (PFD) reports – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. |
| 6 | SUMMARY OF CORONER’S CONCERN At the time of the incident in which Eleisha Skinner died there were issues with regard to the safe use of the driveway at 223 West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe. (More particularly detailed in Section 10). |
| 7 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion unless action is taken to address the above concerns then there is a significant risk of future deaths and I believe each of you have the power to take such action. |
| 8 | INVESTIGATION AND INQUEST On 16 January 2026, I commenced an investigation into the death of Eleisha Jacqueline Patricia Skinner aged 21. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 23 June 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was: Accident |
| 9 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH Eleisha Skinner died at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, during the afternoon of 8th January 2026 from the effects of the crush injuries Eleisha sustained when, on the evening of 4th January 2026, she became trapped between the rear of her Audi motor vehicle and the front wall of the house in which she resided as a tenant. On balance, the incident appears to have occurred as a result of Eleisha’s vehicle slipping after having been parked with the handbrake on and dropping off the rear of the driveway, at a time when the boot was open, and Eleisha was behind the car in the process of unloading. It was a very cold night with frost on frozen snow, which made the inclined drive very slippery. There were no railings or other barrier or obstacle to prevent a vehicle over-run from the drive, nor was there evidence that the driveway had been salted or gritted. |
| 10 | CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the inquest I heard evidence giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (2) At the time of the incident, the driveway was very slippery as a result of the winter weather conditions. It remains unclear whether the tenants have access to gritting or salting materials and equipment and instructions as to how and when to utilise, or whether the owners or managers have any procedure in place to mitigate against such icy conditions. 3) The particular mechanics of this incident indicated a vehicle was being unloaded from a rear boot with the potential downwards trajectory of the vehicle in the event of slippage or rolling being directly towards the individual undertaking the unloading. There was no evidence of any instructions to users of the driveway regarding safe unloading of vehicles from the upper end of the driveway such that a vehicle will run away from those unloading if an issue arises. |
| 11 | COPIES AND PUBLICATION OF THIS REPORT I have a duty to send a copy of my report to every Interested Person who in my opinion should receive it. I also may send a copy of the report to any other person who I believe may |
| 12 | Crispin Giles BUTLER Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire |
The post Eleisha Skinner: Prevention of future deaths report appeared first on Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.
Share Evidence Blueprint
Save to Google Notes
Search Google Scholar
Save as PDF
⭐ My Revision List
